Father's First Year


Understanding Your Two Month Old

Watching Your Baby Grow

At two months of age, your baby will begin to notice and reach out to the world around her. She can see better now. She can watch a person or object moving directly in front of her. She is more alert and can respond to you more. The world around her is more interesting to her.

Your baby is gaining more strength in her neck and shoulders. This allows her to hold her head up better and to see more.

Your baby also may begin to make some new sounds. She may start cooing and making sounds like "ah-ah-ah" and "ooh, ooh, ooh." And she may make squeaking and gurgling noises.

Your baby will try to bring her hands to her mouth. She will do this often. When her fingers reach her mouth, she will not be good at keeping them there. She will get better at this as she gets older. She can also tightly hold a toy, such as a rattle, when you put it in her hand. But she will have trouble letting it go.

Her movements are no longer jerky but grow smoother day by day. She may be awake more during the day. If she is an active baby, she may be moving all the time when she is awake.

What's It Like To Be Two Months Old?

  • My head is a little wobbly when I am propped up. Put your hand behind my neck and head for support.
  • I can hold my head up for a few seconds when I'm on my stomach.
  • I hold onto things for a little while.
  • I move my arms and legs. I "bicycle" with my feet when I get excited.
  • I gurgle, laugh and smile when I am happy.
  • I cry when I am hungry, scared or uncomfortable.
  • I am aware of different voices and people.
  • I stay awake during the day. But I usually take naps throughout the day.
  • I make cooing sounds.
  • I begin to stare at my hands.
  • I follow you with my eyes to watch you move around.
  • I stare at people and at things.
  • I smile at other people, not just at my mother.
  • I quiet down when I suck my fingers, a bottle or a pacifier.

Baby Movements

At two months of age, your baby has more control of her body. When she was younger, she may have looked uncoordinated when she waved her arms and legs. Now she can move her arms and legs more smoothly.

She can't reach yet, but if you touch her hand with a toy, her hand will move toward the toy.

Her hands are above her head when she plays. She can twist her body and head from side to side. She can put her hand in her mouth for sucking.

Some babies may make crawling movements with their knees when lying on their tummies.

You will see changes in how your baby uses her eyes, ears and hands. Here are things to look for in your two-month-old:

  • She watches her hands more.
  • She can watch an object several feet away. She especially likes to watch moving objects or people.
  • She reacts to sounds by looking toward the sound.
  • When she hears a sound, she may stop moving until she decides where it is from.
  • Since her hands are open more often, she can touch more objects. She is learning the difference between hard and soft. She likes it when something soft is placed in her fingers.

For more information about dads and their baby's first year, get The Everything® Father's First Year Book by Vincent Iannelli, MD, which is published by Adams Media and is now available at your favorite bookstore.

You can also order The Everything® Father's First Year Book right now from amazon.com.



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